Iranian Border Guards End Large-Scale Drills

The Iranian border guards today ended their four-day wargames in the four western provinces bordering Iraq, Khouzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah and Kurdistan. The exercises, codenamed ‘Eqtedar 3’, involved some 4,000 border guards and training in weapons, tactics, counter-terrorism and counter-smuggling, Fars News Agency reported.

“The objective of the drills were enhancing border guards power in confronting threat,” said Brig. Gen. Hossein Zolfaqari, border guards commander.

Gen. Zolfaqari did not elaborate what particular threats the guards could be confronting in near future. The New York Times, however, reported that the security situation in Iraq was deteriorating, with Sunni insurgents closing in on western outskirts of Baghdad.

The ‘Eqtedar 3’ exercises could probably mean that Iran is concerned of any spillover effects of the security situation in the neighboring Iraq.

Photo credit: An Iranian border guard at Iraq border (FNA)

Iraq Closes Abu Ghraib

Citing Concerns It Could Be Overrun by Insurgents

The Iraqi government said Tuesday that it had closed the Abu Ghraib prison because of fears that it could be overrun by Sunni insurgents. Iraqi Justice Ministry said it had moved 2,400 prisoners to other high-security prisons in central and northern Iraq, the New York Times reported today.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) captured Fallujah, in Anbar province, early this year. The Times is also reporting that the insurgents are in control of other areas in Anbar, including sections of Ramadi. If the insurgents are feared to overrun Abu Ghraib, they must be moving from Anbar toward western outskirts of Baghdad.

The Iraqi Army announced weeks ago it was ready to recapture Fallujah, but the Times report shows not only the insurgents are in control of the city three months after its captured, but they are also controlling sections of Ramadi and other areas in Anbar. And now they are threatening Abu Ghraib and western outskirts of Baghdad, which is home to Baghdad International Airport.

The worsening security situation in Iraq is especially troubling considering that the country will be holding its all-important parliamentary election on 30 April. Under the Iraqi constitution, the parliament chooses the prime minister. Maliki has served two terms and apparently wants to stay on for a third term.

Photo credit: Abu Ghraib Prison in western Baghdad (Andrea Bruce/The New York Times)